wrong tubes..

[Elcapitan]

So last night I got my VM up to band practice level volumes, and was surprised because there was almost no bottom end, and the top end was really shrill and harsh. Hmmmm. So I thought I'd check out the tubes and see how my NOS RCAs might sound in there, and lo and behold, I find Sovtek 6l6WXT+. :scared Probably my least favorite power tube of all time. I'd be pissed but I'm an employee and got the amp for less than cost. I'm thinking the amp was returned after having its tubes switched out, and like many of the noobs at my location do, the other store didn't check the amp. My question is, could this have harmed the amp? Also, would that account for the difference in tone between an amp I remember as being incredibly rich and full and my experience last night?

[surfnorthwest]

My question is, could this have harmed the amp? Also, would that account for the difference in tone between an amp I remember as being incredibly rich and full and my experience last night?

Yes the tone would be much different.

That is messed up. The 6L6 tubes are defenitly not the tubes you want in that amp. Steve D who designed the Vintage Modern is on the forum and should chime in on this one.

Being that the amp is still working I don't think you hurt anything other than those shitty tubes maybe. Get some fresh KT66 tubes in there and have the bias checked.

[SteveD]

So last night I got my VM up to band practice level volumes, and was surprised because there was almost no bottom end, and the top end was really shrill and harsh. Hmmmm. So I thought I'd check out the tubes and see how my NOS RCAs might sound in there, and lo and behold, I find Sovtek 6l6WXT+. :scared Probably my least favorite power tube of all time. I'd be pissed but I'm an employee and got the amp for less than cost. I'm thinking the amp was returned after having its tubes switched out, and like many of the noobs at my location do, the other store didn't check the amp. My question is, could this have harmed the amp? Also, would that account for the difference in tone between an amp I remember as being incredibly rich and full and my experience last night?

Surf has pretty much answered the question.

I have also answered your PM.

[Elcapitan]

Thanks guys. I'm actually returning the head and ordering one factory fresh. Probably a few hundred bucks more, but after a new set of tubes and a rebias, it's probably a wash anyway. Now I'm without, but it's worth it in the long run.